Rhodochrosite

Unknown Owner

The polymetallic ores at Uchucchacua mine in the high Andes, Oyon Province, Peru have produced an impressive ten new species, but these are largely unknown to mineral collectors who focus on the brightly coloured showy Rhodochrosite for which the mine is most famous. Rhodochrosite from Uchucchacua mine is world-class, presenting gemmy, translucent, raspberry to pale cerise-pink rounded rhombic crystals and scalenohedral forms, usually upon black manganese oxide-coated matrix. This fine small cabinet display specimen features the latter habit with several extremely gemmy scalenohedral crystals reaching 1 cm in length clustered at one end of the piece and with other modified habit crystals spread along one side of the display surface. The matt black finish of the unidentified manganese oxides provides a superb backdrop to emphasize the wonderful quality of the Rhodochrosite. There is no damage to the Rhodochrosite crystals. Compared with the much sharper rhombic form and more vivid pinks and intense cerise-red shades of the crystallized Quartz-hosted Pasto Bueno specimens from several hundred miles to the north the Uchucchacua mine is highly distinctive.